Apr 12, 2024

Public workspace3,3-Diaminobenzidine Tetrahydrochloride (DAB) Immunohistochemistry on Mouse Brain Tissue Sections

  • 1Van Andel Research Institute
Open access
Protocol Citationmadalynn.erb Erb 2024. 3,3-Diaminobenzidine Tetrahydrochloride (DAB) Immunohistochemistry on Mouse Brain Tissue Sections. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl497zjgo5/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: April 08, 2024
Last Modified: May 31, 2024
Protocol Integer ID: 98141
Keywords: ASAPCRN
Abstract
This protocol details the staining for free floating mouse brain sections.
Materials
ReagentPyrex® Staining DishTed Pella Inc.Catalog #36754-60
Reagent8-Section Staining NetsTed Pella Inc.Catalog #36154-64
ReagentVECTASTAIN® Elite® ABC-HRP Kit, Peroxidase (Standard)Vector LaboratoriesCatalog #PK-6100
ReagentPierce™ DAB Substrate KitThermo ScientificCatalog #34002
ReagentFisherbrand™ Superfrost™ Plus Microscope SlidesFisher ScientificCatalog #12-550-15
ReagentEntellanElectron Microscopy SciencesCatalog #14802

Recipes

10X TBS

AB
1M Tris500 ml
5M NaCl300 ml
H2O200 mL

1X TBS + 0.1% triton 1 liter

AB
10X TBS100 ml
Triton X1 ml
Water899 ml

TBS 1 liter

AB
1M Tris50 ml
5M NaCl30ml
Water919 ml
TBST (0.1% Tween-20) 1 liter

AB
10X TBS100 ml
Tween-201ml
Water899 ml
0.2M Phosphate Buffer
AB
Na2HPO422.72 g
NaH2PO45.52 g
H2O1000 mL

0.1M Phosphate Buffer

AB
0.2M PB500 mL
H2O500 mL
Cresyl Violet (500 mL)
AB
H2O500 mL
Cresyl Violet Acetate0.5g
100% Glacial Acetic Acid1.25mL
Warm to 60°C and stir until completely dissolved filter with whatman paper (wrap in foil to protect from light)
Quenching solution→100ml
AB
30% hydrogen peroxide (Sigma H1009)1 ml
Methanol99 ml
ABC mix→60ml
AB
TBS60 ml
Reagent A24 drops
Reagent B24 drops
DAB Solution→30ml
AB
PBS30 ml
(DAB reagent 1)12 drops buffer pH = 7.5
(DAB reagent 2)24 drops DAB
(DAB reagent 3)12 drops hydrogen peroxide
vortex between reagents
Blocking solution→100ml
AB
NGS10 ml
TBS + triton90 ml + 0.1%
Primary Antibodies:
ABCD
Target Species Conc Manufacturer
Iba1 Rabbit 1:1000 WAKO 019-19741
GFAP Mouse 1:1000 Sigma G3893
pSer129-Synuclein Rabbit 1:1000 Abcam ab51253
TH Rabbit 1:2000 Novus Biological N300109
pSer202, pThr205 Tau (AT8) Mouse 1:1000 Thermofisher MN1020
GFP Rabbit 1:1000 Thermofisher A-11122
Secondary Antibodies:
ABCDE
Target Species Conc Manufacturer
Mouse Goat 1:500 BA-9200-1.5 Biotinylated
Rabbit Goat 1:500 BA-1000-1.5 Biotinylated

Day 1
Day 1
2d 1h 35m
Staining protocol for 35μm free floating mouse brain sections.
Staining is performed in glass staining dishes (Pyrex 36754-60) using 8-section staining nets (Ted Pella 36154-64) .
The sections can be transferred between wells using a paint brush.
  • Volume of solution:

  1. Amount20 mL -Amount30 mL for antibodies or ABC mix .
  2. Amount50 mL for washing.
Wash
Mix
Gently rock the plates during the washing and incubation steps.
Wash sections: 3 times (5 min per wash) in Tris Buffer Saline (TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections: Wash for Duration00:05:00 in Tris Buffer Saline (TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/3).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections: Wash for Duration00:05:00 in Tris Buffer Saline (TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/3).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections: Wash for Duration00:05:00 in Tris Buffer Saline (TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/3).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Quenching: Incubate sections in Quenching Solution (0.3% H202 in Methanol) for Duration00:10:00 at Temperature4 °C .
10m
Incubation
Temperature
Wash sections: 3 short rinses in TBS then 2 times 5min in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Mix
Temperature
Then wash for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/2).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Then wash for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/2).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Block sections in blocking solution (10% Normal Goat Serum (NGS) + 0.1% Triton-X in TBS) for Duration01:00:00 at TemperatureRoom temperature .

1h
Temperature
Primary Antibodies: Dilute antibodies in 5% NGS + 0.1% Triton-X in TBS.
Incubate in primary antibody solution for Duration48:00:00 at Temperature4 °C .
2d
Incubation
Temperature
Cover dishes with parafilm for this step.
Day 4
Day 4
1d 3h 47m
Wash 3 times (10 min each wash) in TBST (0.1% Tween 20 in TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Temperature
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST (0.1%Tween 20 in TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/3).
10m
Wash
Temperature
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST (0.1%Tween 20 in TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/3).
10m
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST (0.1%Tween 20 in TBS) at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/3).
10m
Wash
Temperature
Secondary Antibodies:
Incubation
Temperature
Dilute secondary antibodies in TBST.
Biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG (1:500 dilution) or Biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG (1:500 dilution).
Incubate for Duration02:00:00 atTemperatureRoom temperature or Duration24:00:00 at Temperature4 °C .

1d 2h
Incubation
Temperature
Wash sections 3 times (10min each wash) in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/3).
10m
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/3).
10m
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/3).
10m
Prepare ABC solution using VECTASTAIN® Elite® ABC-HRP Kit, Peroxidase (Standard) (PK-6100).
ABC mix: Amount5 mL TBS + 2 drops of reagent A (vortex) + 2 drops reagent B (vortex) let stand at TemperatureRoom temperature for Duration00:30:00 before using.
30m
Mix
Vortex between reagents (after adding reagent A and after adding reagent B).
Mix
Make Amount30 mL ABC solution per dish.
Incubate sections in ABC solution for Duration01:00:00 at TemperatureRoom temperature .

1h
Incubation
Temperature
Wash sections 3 times (10min each wash) in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Temperature
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/3).
10m
Wash
Temperature
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/3).
10m
Wash
Temperature
Wash for Duration00:10:00 in TBST at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/3).
10m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections 2 times (5 min each wash) in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/2).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/2).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Prepare DAB solution using DAB Substrate Kit, Peroxidase (HRP), with Nickel, (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) (SK-4100).

  1. Amount5 mL TBS + 2 drops of Reagent 1 (Buffer pH=7.5) + 4 drops Reagent 2 (DAB) + 2 drops Reagent 3 (H2O2).
  2. Vortex between reagents (after reagent 1, after reagent 2 and after reagent 3).
  3. Make Amount30 mL DAB solution per dish.
Mix
Revelation with DAB chromogen (until cells are visible):

Note
typically about Duration00:02:00 for TH.
  • All dishes must be developed for the same amount of time – do them together, ask a friend for help if you have more than 2 dishes of tissue.
2m
Perform 3 short rinses in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Temperature
Perform rinse in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/3).
Wash
Temperature
Perform rinse in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/3).
Wash
Temperature
Perform rinse in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/3).
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections 5 time (5 min each wash) in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature .
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (1/5).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (2/5).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (3/5).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (4/5).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Wash sections for Duration00:05:00 in TBS at TemperatureRoom temperature (5/5).
5m
Wash
Temperature
Mount sections:
Use a petri dish filled with PBS to mount the sections on superfrost plus slides (Fisher Scientific 12-550-15).

  • This is easiest to do using a medium sized paint brush.
After mounting let slides dry at TemperatureRoom temperature (Duration00:02:00 -Duration00:10:00 ) then dip in miliQ H2O.

12m
Temperature
Dry slides DurationOvernight at TemperatureRoom temperature before moving to the next step.
5m
Overnight
Temperature
Day 5 or 6
Day 5 or 6
9h 18m
Rehydrate slides in H2O for Duration00:02:00 -Duration00:03:00 at TemperatureRoom temperature .

5m
Temperature
Dehydrate slides in sequential EtOH washes (70%, 95%, 100% EtOH) for Duration00:05:00 each wash at TemperatureRoom temperature .
5m
Temperature
Clear tissue for Duration00:05:00 in fresh Xylene I then incubate in fresh Xylene for ≥ Duration00:05:00 .

a. Keep slides in Xylene until coversliping.
b. Perform Xylene steps and coversliping in a chemical fume hood.
10m
Incubation
Use Entellan mounting medium (Electron Microscopy Sciences 14802) to coverslip slides.
Overnight
Temperature
Apply one line of Entellan across the middle of the slide.
Cover with glass coverslip and gently press down with forceps.
Let slides dry in the fume hood for Duration01:00:00 – then dry on the bench DurationOvernight at TemperatureRoom temperature .
1h 5m
Overnight
Temperature
Gently remove excess Entellen with a razor blade.
Optional Cresyl Violet Protocol (NISSL stain)
Optional Cresyl Violet Protocol (NISSL stain)
10m
After rehydration and before ethanol steps (dehydration).
Incubate slides in fresh cresyl violet for Duration00:10:00 at TemperatureRoom temperature .

10m
Incubation
Temperature
Proceed with dehydration steps normally.
Must stain with cresyl violet for TH stereology in substantia nigra.
Secondary Antibodies
Secondary Antibodies
ABCDE
Target Species Conc Manufacturer
Mouse Goat 1:500 BA-9200-1.5 Biotinylated
Rabbit Goat 1:500 BA-1000-1.5 Biotinylated